To be honest, nobody is taking part in the Four Nations yet. It has only appeared in Spanish documents and only Spanish staff members have talked about it. Without rivals there is no tournament. Germany Women Facebook page shared Scrumqueens article about it, but that's far from a confirmation.

Uh, I didn't suspect that, I thought they already knew the name of the opponents. Maybe a Four Nations like that hypothesized by the spanish federation is too ambitious, maybe they could opt for a more economic one-week tournament in one only venue (even just semifinals and finals), at least for the first year

Canalina wrote:Uh, I didn't suspect that, I thought they already knew the name of the opponents. Maybe a Four Nations like that hypothesized by the spanish federation is too ambitious, maybe they could opt for a more economic one-week tournament in one only venue (even just semifinals and finals), at least for the first year

You'd think that the RFU, FFR etc. would step in and enter "A" teams - it would be a great way to blood new, young, players especially with club rugby having closed down.

The only "someone else" I can think is Spain, but Italy and Spain played together two times in the World Cup

The other not-6N european teams are frankly too weak, currently, to be an efficacious sparring partner and hosting a non european team probably would have been too onerousFrance is a neighbor nation and Biella, the city venue, is not far from the border

I think Valsugana (city of Padova, the captain is the player in white and blue with the glasses in the left-up corner), Monza (a town close to Milan, represented by the girl in red and white in the middle of the photo) and Colorno (near Parma, the blond player with red shirt and red shoes). At least basing on last years results

Xavier Torres Vouga, Member of the Executive Council of South America Rugby, represented the region at a leadership forum of Women’s Rugby in Belfast, Northern Ireland, organized by World Rugby. There, he presented the successful case of the Colombian rugby with the commentators. "It was proud to present the great work being done by the Colombian Federation of Rugby to the rest of the participants of a forum which had representatives from all over the world," said Vouga.Forum was attended by six regions that make up World Rugby (Rugby Asia, Oceania Rugby, Rugby Africa, Americas North Rugby, Rugby Europe and ours), in addition to major developed nations in women’s rugby: Australia, Canada, Spain, France, Italy, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, England, Scotland, Wales and United States.Also participated other sports such as FIFA and the International Cricket Council, all associations led by the team of World Rugby led by CEO Brett Gosper, Katie Sadleir (Women’s Rugby Manager), David Carrigy, Dominic Rumbles and Mark Egan.

“From the outset it was clear that for the expectations of World Rugby, Women’s rugby is the area to be developed in the next 10 years, with growth pathway and solid platforms," explained Vouga, former Brazil international.

"Explained Katie Sadleir, is not developing Women’s rugby but an urgent cultural change." The task will be impossible without changing behaviour and standards. We must try to create stories and multiplied them."

Rugby is defined as a sport values and as such, one of its principles is that it is a sport for all. Therefore, it became clear that we must grow women’s rugby and from there to amplify and strengthen everything else related to our sport.Positive Examples:

In the Forum there were different presentations. He talked about the competition of University rugby in Australia and the development of a competence with quality and giving back.Vouga said: "much talked of approaching universities who are interested in joining and have a sporting structure to rugby practice. It is important to approach the organizations of university sport."

After the presentation of the Fijian rugby and its growth and organization, Vouga spoke about the growth of Women’s rugby in Colombia, social rugby and the success of the program Get Into Rugby in that country.

Followed by Presentations of New Zealand (rugby in secondary schools, with the theme "understanding what girls want" and how to make the transition from the Tag Rugby rugby's contact with the girls), then followed Asia Rugby (the project "Pass it Back", carrying the) rugby values and pass them on to local communities in their other activities). "They commented that for example in Laos rugby has become a typically feminine sport."

The second part was to develop in a workshop “focused on the development of Women’s leadership”.

"We marked some very interesting points," stressed Vouga. "It is not about talk of jobs women as quotas but as an objective. Women are more than 55% of the world population and we must give them space, even more if it is a space for women's sports. They have to have more women in the field of play, refereeing, in fitness, doping, leadership and where else can it be found."

The necessities "Each Union and each region must have their area of Women’s rugby."

As example of this plurality, the Swedish Federation of Rugby has seven Directors - four are women, including its President, and three are male.

The other need is to generate more competition and there was a workshop regarding this, led by Philippe Bourdarias, of World Rugby.

"The main thing is get more tournaments, more skills, more games especially for teams that are outside of the main tournaments."

For Vouga, the more important is for "the construction of credibility; bring the clubs in make them feel a part. There was a day with mothers and their fears and help, the net was used much and always looking for women for leadership. We must oblige clubs to have Women’s Rugby; Each club union should be forced to have a woman on the Board."

In closing, Women’s Rugby Manager for World Rugby Katie Sadleir made it clear that it is a road of no return and that we need for this change in attitude. Rugby is a sport for all, and in that sense, even commercially, the rugby XV of women must be very present.

A representative from Rugby Afrique talked about the disappointment of not having Africa represented at the recent world cup in Irelend. He talked about establishing a 15 aside women's competition in Africa to prepare African teams from the next world cup. We have been asking for this for years ... it seems that finally they are ready to help African women develop the 15 aside code. Although he did not mention it, I also see in the poster that they talk about developing age grade 7 aside and 15 aside competitions. This is something that we have also been asking for over the years. These developments (and hopefully they happen soon) will go a long way to boosting girls and women's rugby in Africa in terms of quality, player numbers and awareness/publicity.

All depends what WR have in mind they may force a change. I think they have a concrete plan and will force clubs and Unions on this. particularly the point of have women representation on the board and a women's section in every club.

Spanish runner-up CRAT A Coruña beat Sporting Clube de Portugal (Portuguese 7s champions) last weekend in their scheduled friendly match 28-3. If I'm not mistaken Sporting expected another friendly game against a French club before inaugural Copa Ibérica in late November.

Some questions about Top 8, the main french championship, addressed to Serge or whoever may answer

- the pronounce is "top huit" or "top eight"?

- is there an official website? I haven't found it and also FFR has few info about. The english Premiership is one step forward

- are there four levels in women XV senior championship (Top 8, Armelle Auclair, Fed 1, Fed 2)?! Surprisingly good; I would have thought just two or at most three levels. In Italy there's just one level, even if with twenty teams

Canalina wrote:Some questions about Top 8, the main french championship, addressed to Serge or whoever may answer

- the pronounce is "top huit" or "top eight"?

- is there an official website? I haven't found it and also FFR has few info about. The english Premiership is one step forward

- are there four levels in women XV senior championship (Top 8, Armelle Auclair, Fed 1, Fed 2)?! Surprisingly good; I would have thought just two or at most three levels. In Italy there's just one level, even if with twenty teams

Cannot say on pronunciation - presumably it would follow the pattern of the men?

No website - and FFR have messed up their old system. For the time being I'd suggest http://www.rugbyfederal.com/Resultats/index.php?division=W1&poule=1&jour=100&year=2018 as the best source. There was a good unofficial site until a few years ago - its now disappeared. To be honest I am not aware of any French site that covers the Top 8 every week as SQ does (if there was doing the SQ round-up would be SO much easier! However, French women's rugby benefits from possibly the most comprehensive regional press coverage to be found anywhere.

The French league is, of course, the oldest in the world so it is not too surprising to find it is so deep and complex. Technically Top 8 and Armelle Auclair are one, "Elite", level. Until recently there were more levels, but recent reforms created one - huge - "third" level (Fed 2), which was quite unpopular, pulling togther teams of widely varying ability.